This will allow researchers in a wide range of fields to create high-quality 3D images of samples including engineering components, biomaterials, fossils, organic materials and energy devices such as fuel cells.

Due for completion in 2012, the X-ray Imaging and Coherence beamline at Diamond, I13, is designed for a broad range of scientific users from biomedicine, materials science, geophysics, astrophysics and archaeology.

Its two branch lines – called the ‘imaging’ and ‘coherence’ branches – will provide tools for non-destructive examination of internal features ranging from the micro (a few thousandths of a millimetre) to the nano (a few millionths of a millimetre) length scale.

Diamond has entered into a seven-year collaboration with The University of Manchester to develop the imaging branch line, working together to discover, explore and exploit new science using synchrotron light.

“The late Professor Alan Gilbert [the inaugural President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester] visited Diamond and was struck by the world-class standard of the facility, and he was keen for Manchester to be directly involved. With our own dedicated imaging suite at Manchester, the Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, which was officially opened in June last year, Manchester was looking to expand its imaging capabilities and the partnership with Diamond provided the perfect opportunity.”

Prof. Phil Withers, The University of Manchester

The 3D X-ray tomography that will be performed on I13 has many applications. It can be used to characterise the internal structure of porous materials such as trabecular bone or metal foams, or to determine the size and shape of cracks and other defects inside components such as aircraft parts, where unexpected failures could have catastrophic results.

Because it is non-destructive, X-ray tomography can be used to study the internal structure of precious and unique objects in archaeology and palaeontology – for example studying ancient insects fossilised in amber. I13 will be able to take hard X-ray imaging beyond today’s limits, offering the UK scientific community a facility that can create 3D images of a quality that is beyond what is possible with laboratory techniques.

“The imaging branch line has huge potential to exploit the high resolution phase contrast imaging and perform tomography, the construction of a 3D image from two dimensional projections taken at different orientations. Working with the University of Manchester will provide us with many benefits. They will bring with them an expertise in imaging capabilities and will help to expand the range of experiments possible on the beamline.”

Prof. Christoph Rau, Diamond Light Source

The funding from Manchester includes capital staff and operational costs towards the I13 imaging branch beamline in return for substantial dedicated access. The staff financed through this collaboration will accelerate the completion of the I13 imaging branch and ensure its operation for the next seven years. The effort is further supported by a team from The University of Manchester, situated on site to drive forward the research.

The experimental hutches for I13 are currently under construction but the optics hutches are already receiving X-rays from the synchrotron ready for testing. Following the inaugural board meeting Prof. Colin Bailey, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at The University of Manchester, ran the first test sample on the beamline with great success (pictured right - projected test pattern of a 500 micrometre piece of tungsten using simple radiography).

He said: “The partnership with Diamond will allow the leading academics at The University of Manchester to push the boundaries of science using synchrotron light. The facilities at Diamond complement our current imaging facilities at Manchester, including our new Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility. I look forward to the exciting, world-leading scientific discoveries that will result from this partnership with Diamond.”

Chief Executive of Diamond, Prof. Gerd Materlik, says, “This is great news for Diamond and the I13 beamline. In the current economic climate, creating a new model of interaction with one of our university partners, and financial support such as this, is extremely important in terms of fully exploiting our facilities. We have a range of partnerships already in place with universities across the UK and I hope that this model might inspire others to get involved in a proactive way in the facility.”

I13 is the longest synchrotron experimental facility in the western hemisphere, with a total length of 250m from the source. Since the X-ray source is so far away from the sample, the X-rays fan out as they travel down the beamline, forming an extended [planar light] wave front. When travelling through matter this wave is deformed and leads to an enhanced contrast in the recorded image, indicating the edges of internal structures. This effect is used for example for imaging soft tissue like muscles or membranes, which are difficult if not impossible to represent in detail by traditional radiography.

I13 is part of the second phase of construction at Diamond which is due to be complete in 2012. Funding for Phase III, the design and construction of a further ten beamlines, was announced by the government in October this year and will bring the total number of experimental stations to 32 when complete in 2017, enhancing the capabilities of the Diamond synchrotron science facility.